Elizabeth Brewer Roden

Born in Whittier, California, at the age of 5, she was dancing on stage with the Meglain Kiddies with Shirley Temple. At 15, she was acting in popular radio programs. She left Hollywood when she married Marine Pilot George W. Brewer with whom she had five children. By the 1960s, she had a Master of Arts in English and became chair of the English Department at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She continued writing plays about women’s rights and the plight of women throughout history which earned her a position on Stanford University’s Center for Research on Women and Gender C.R.O.W. Where she participated as an honorary scholar for many years.

With her second husband, Chris Roden, she moved to Palo Alto where they lived for 25 years, during which time she emerged as a playwright. With her passing, Betsy joins her parents, first husband George, her two daughters Linny and Judith, and second husband Chris.

A celebration of her life will be 2 p.m. March 31 at First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto.